The Penn's Grove record., 1887-10-22

[ did not. knowing too well that 1t wa
either indefinitely postponed or of for
v
"When we stepped into the office that
night old Bush met us at the door.
Fife minute too late. poysl" he ex
claimed, grasping both our hands at
the same time.
"Whyp Is supper overp" I asked.
"No, no; plenty Nv sup err" he re-
Piled, still holding our hands. "Extrie
supply NV supply Der veddin'; de,
veddin' watts shust happenl
THE weddinep" asked Earl and
in a breath. who's marriedpn
"Why, mine Bess and Mr.. Eubanks,
Nv course. Dey takes der bridal trip
terectly.'
"Earl fell back in dismay. Poor
fellowi 1 had felt sii day as though l
knew this wcaid happen.
"Bess marriedf" he gasped, looking
as white as a sheet, as he clutched my
hand.
"Yes," answered the seeminglyju bl.
liant German, fund dey leaf Ia your
train ter-night." -
"Ahl" answered Earl, as he strobe
back to the engine. "Tender her my
congratulations"
"That vas all he said.
"What had he resolved upon7
II went into supper, feeling about
as badly as Earl, l imagined, for l was
really sorry for him. There we've the
bride and groom looking az happy as
a couple could look.
"Where is Mr.. Wendall, Uncle
Tommy" asked Ress. as / walked in.
"WlIat sh )uld / say
He's tcoming to supper tO.night,"
I replied; ''he's not feeling Rs l."
"I'm Sorry" was her conf rting re-
ply.
II congratulated them, as under the
circumstances l was compelled to do,
but l could better have w"lng the viii
lain's neck; for | had yome to the con
clusion that he was q villain.
81 came out to the train with the
bride and groom, They got on the
coach attached to the freight, put on as
accommodation for passengers. l went
down to the engine ami fsund Earl
si..iasysfsa the eS VIM his iact
ooiio" h-s: Al Ky
picture Of despair. "A uatk b.. - CO
spread his countenance. As ] 5iinoss
upon the engine a low groan escap&
MS tightly closed lips. Foor Eal
WHAT could / do or say to cheer bin
up in this hour of his utter despair?
While 1 was thus thinking, knowing
not what to say, fearing | might
wound instead Of comforting him, h.
suddenly turned upon me with a look
| shall never forget. His eyes, usually
bright and sparkling, were now fash.
ing fire. lie had nursed his WRIT }s
long as he could, and now it hac o1gBl
forth in all Its fury. His teeth aual
tered, and his face was llvid WIT 1agIe.
"Where aretae55.., re gasped.
ing the thre(tle of his,
"They have boarded the train," !
answered, in as quiet a tone as possible.
Then they go with usr"
Yes"
"Where-to what placer
providence, | believe"
every well, he said, In a nnIet tone.
"By this time q dark, heavy, omi-
nous cloud had gathered IN the east.
| never saw a cloud gather Us quickly,
and when we left that station it was
amidst the thunder's roar and the
I,ghtning's flash. The lightning fairly
danced ON the track before US. The
rain came down in torrents, and alto
gether 1t was a very desolxte night.
Earl Wendall pulled bis engine wide
open, and she shot out like a cannon
ball. Faster and faster we went, until
tae cars jumped anu ratified rs though
Vhey were gong to leave the track every
minute. / hardly knew when we
reached the first station. We whizaed
by like. a streak, not checking in the
least. The rain was by this time blind
ing. My hair fairly stood on end.
Earl, seeing how frightened | was, gave
q loud laugh, which chilled me to the
very marrow OF my bones, l UNDER
stood now. Ee intended to run the
train off the track. il possible, and let
every soul on board perish. Before /
was aware OF wHat he had been doing
he had disappeared through the Cab
window and was making his way to the
front of the engine. In another In.
slant the headlight was outl He had
turned 1t off. and we were plungIng
into utter darkness at the rate Of thirty
miles an h0url
"COmlng back into the engine with
his pistol in his hand he took his seat
on the box and gave himself up to the
most hilarious laughter. / made a
spring to his side. with the intention
Of shutting her of, but he slapped his
cooked pistol in my face aud cried:
"Back, Tom, or you are a dead manI'
"But, Earl, I said, you will run the
train off and cause fearful destruction
to life and propertyp'
.sThat is what l want to dol' he
screamed, with another laugh.
"By this time tine conductor, know.
ing something was wrong, came over
the cars to the front, followed by two
or three passengers, among them Eu'
banks.
.sWhat is the matterp" asked the
conductor, as he sprang on to the engine.
STAND backI" shouted Earl, with his
pistol presented. SPIN running this
engine, and the first man who attempt
to interfere IS a dead manP
"Eubanks made a rush at Earl, who.
at sight of his rival, fairly foamed witt
rage.
"Villain!" he screamed, "you dare
interfere? You, Of all menpn
"Eubanks recoiled, horror stricken,
In the meantime, We were plunginl
along In utter darkness, knowing not
what minute W. would all be dashe1
to eternity.
"while the conductor and Ear "a
talking in an excited tones Euesais
slipped up behind Earl with ) Ailles9f
wood, ready to strike.
"Look behind, EarlI' I c,I In
an instant he had turned and " Eu-
banks, really to brain him.
"Villaii - Inning
nv brldf And